When I listened to the stories these people told, I knew just how hard things were during the Great Depression. In one story I heard(http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/garavel.html), the man talked about how stonecutters would die from silica. He goes on to say that in modern day they have new equipment, but men still die from silica. Jim Cole(http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/jimcole.html) talked about how he was an African American and wasn't permitted to be in the union. This shows that there was segregation in things that are made to help workers.
Caitlin
These interviews showed me how difficult things were back during the Great Depression, especially the jobs and discrimination. Some of the jobs were extremly dangerous and sometimes ended fatally. In Chris Thorsten's case, he was fortunate to not have been killed. He was an Iron worker in New York City. While he was on duty, he was squeezed between a crane. His collar bone, all the ribs in his body, and three vertebrae broke. He couldn't work for four years. (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/thorsten.html) Also, I learned how bad discrimination was. Jim Cole was an African-American packing house worker in Chicago, Illinois. He wanted to join the Union but they wouldn't let him because of his skin color. It is so ridiculous how people of different ethnicities were not accepted and allowed to do things white people were. (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/jimcole.html)
Zach
I learned a few things from these interviews. Mainly though I learned that times were tough during this time for people of all races, but African-Americans took the brunt of the blow. Jobs were scarce and living was rough at times. The interview that meant the most to me was the interview with the man at Eddie’s bar (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/manbar.html). The man preferred to stay anonymous but had a lot to say. He talked about how bad daily life was in New York. Many things that occurred there were dangerous, morally wrong, illegal, or all three. He said “I’m in New York, but New Yorkain’t in me.” He means that even though he is aware that all these terrible things like stealing, shooting, and backbiting, are going on he will refuse to take any part in them. I respect this man for standing up for what he believes is right.
Kathryn I had learned many things in these interviews. However, the one of the interviews that stuck out the most in my mind was the one about Jim Cole, who was a packing house worker. He worked in the Beef Kill section and had been there for twenty years. He wanted to join a union called the AFL, which was also known as the Amalgamated Butchers and Meat Cutters. However, they would not take him. The reason why they could not take him was simple-the color of his skin. Jim Cole said that they never explained why he could not be in the union, but he knew it was because he was African American. One other interview that stuck out most in my head was Anna Novak, who was a packing house worker. She had been working in the stockyards for eight years. Before the unions were created, Anna said that the workers used to have to buy the foremen presents on all the holidays which included Christmas, Easter, Holy Week, or Good Friday. She said that your job wasn’t worth much if you didn’t observe these holiday customs. She also said that you got along fine if you let your boss slap you in the behind. For that reason, Anna said that she would rather work any other place but the stockyards. Jim Cole- http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/jimcole.html Anna Novak- http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/anna.html
When I listened to the stories these people told, I knew just how hard things were during the Great Depression. In one story I heard(http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/garavel.html), the man talked about how stonecutters would die from silica. He goes on to say that in modern day they have new equipment, but men still die from silica. Jim Cole(http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/jimcole.html) talked about how he was an African American and wasn't permitted to be in the union. This shows that there was segregation in things that are made to help workers.
Caitlin
These interviews showed me how difficult things were back during the Great Depression, especially the jobs and discrimination. Some of the jobs were extremly dangerous and sometimes ended fatally. In Chris Thorsten's case, he was fortunate to not have been killed. He was an Iron worker in New York City. While he was on duty, he was squeezed between a crane. His collar bone, all the ribs in his body, and three vertebrae broke. He couldn't work for four years. (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/thorsten.html) Also, I learned how bad discrimination was. Jim Cole was an African-American packing house worker in Chicago, Illinois. He wanted to join the Union but they wouldn't let him because of his skin color. It is so ridiculous how people of different ethnicities were not accepted and allowed to do things white people were. (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/jimcole.html)
Zach
I learned a few things from these interviews. Mainly though I learned that times were tough during this time for people of all races, but African-Americans took the brunt of the blow. Jobs were scarce and living was rough at times. The interview that meant the most to me was the interview with the man at Eddie’s bar (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/manbar.html). The man preferred to stay anonymous but had a lot to say. He talked about how bad daily life was in New York. Many things that occurred there were dangerous, morally wrong, illegal, or all three. He said “I’m in New York, but New York ain’t in me.” He means that even though he is aware that all these terrible things like stealing, shooting, and backbiting, are going on he will refuse to take any part in them. I respect this man for standing up for what he believes is right.
Kathryn
I had learned many things in these interviews. However, the one of the interviews that stuck out the most in my mind was the one about Jim Cole, who was a packing house worker. He worked in the Beef Kill section and had been there for twenty years. He wanted to join a union called the AFL, which was also known as the Amalgamated Butchers and Meat Cutters. However, they would not take him. The reason why they could not take him was simple-the color of his skin. Jim Cole said that they never explained why he could not be in the union, but he knew it was because he was African American. One other interview that stuck out most in my head was Anna Novak, who was a packing house worker. She had been working in the stockyards for eight years. Before the unions were created, Anna said that the workers used to have to buy the foremen presents on all the holidays which included Christmas, Easter, Holy Week, or Good Friday. She said that your job wasn’t worth much if you didn’t observe these holiday customs. She also said that you got along fine if you let your boss slap you in the behind. For that reason, Anna said that she would rather work any other place but the stockyards.
Jim Cole- http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/jimcole.html
Anna Novak- http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/anna.html